What is each division’s best-combined roster? Part 5–6:Pacific.
Usually, divisions clash for their division title and bragging rights in local areas. However, what if the best of the best from the five teams in each division combined to compete with the others (excluding players with no minutes this season). Here is my best 14 man roster from the Pacific division:
PG-Steph Curry
Curry was the clear front runner for MVP at the start of 2022 but a rough January was all it took for him to be taken out of contention. Despite all of this, he has still had a great season, breaking the 3-point record, dropping 50 in the All-Star game with 16 3s, and the Warriors returned toward the top of the West (finishing in 3rd).
SG-Devin Booker
Devin Booker has made a late charge into the MVP conversation with many pundits placing him in the top 5 candidates. He has put in a dream position alongside Chris Paul but that is not to say that he has had an easy ride to the Suns’ 78% win rate. He is one of the most skilled scorers in the league and it will be a great test of character to see if Booker can win the championship they couldn't secure last year.
SF-Paul George
Paul George is another player that had their MVP season derailed but unlike Curry’s bad form, PG13 suffered an elbow injury meaning he has only played 31 games this season. Paul George did step up his game tremendously at the start of this season as Kawhi has had to sit all season due to knee problems. PG wasn't available for the Clippers' biggest game of the season, in the play-in against the Pelicans, which resulted in them narrowly missing the playoffs.
PF-LeBron James
LeBron has had an incredible season and continues to strengthen his GOAT argument. He was leading the league in scoring but a late-season injury meant he wasn't able to win the award, he would have been the oldest scoring champ of all time. At 37, he is also the oldest player to have multiple 50-point games in one season. His MVP argument was sadly weakened because of two reasons, he has been injured, and the Lakers were awful this season.
C-Anthony Davis
AD has looked in All-Star form when he has been able to lace up but sadly his many injuries have stunted his time on the court and he has spent most of the season in questionable outfits on the bench. Everyone has been quick to blame Westbrook for the Lakers’ problems but forget that he has missed a strong big man and he has had to take a lot of unexpected responsibility with LeBron and AD out for most of the season.
BENCH:
6-Chris Paul
Many people focus on LeBron’s ability to age without losing his ability to do what he does best. However, many people brush over Chris Paul who has, for the first time in 7 years, led the league in assists. He has been able to reduce his shot attempts per game to facilitate Devin Booker but has been able to step in and control the floor when the team needed him.
7-De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox is possibly the best case of a player stranded on the wrong side. Fox could easily be the second-best player on a championship contender but has made it clear that he had his heart set on the Kings when he signed a 5-year extension in 2020. The Kings want to build around Fox and trading for Sabonis shows they have plans for him but they have made a big mistake by giving away their ‘backup plan’ in Haliburton.
8-Deandre Ayton
Ayton has become one of the best young big men in the league and has prospered alongside Chris Paul who has an uncanny ability to turn young centers/power forwards into great players. He is a top 10 rebounder in the league and has also become great at holding down the paint on both sides of the floor.
9-Klay Thompson
Klay has had an impressive return to the league considering the amount of time he was out for but he is still not quite himself from beyond the arc. This year he has made his most amount of shots from 3 per game but he has also attempted his most shots from 3 resulting in his worst 3 point percentage ever. He has still managed to find other ways to help the team as this has been his second-best season in terms of assists and best in terms of rebounds.
10-Russell Westbrook
Westbrook has been the scapegoat for many of the Lakers’ problems however most of these claims are unfair. Westbrook has had to carry a side without LeBron and AD which is not what he was promised. He has never had to carry a team by himself as he has always had KD, Harden, PG13, Beal, and Melo.
11-Jordan Poole
Poole has returned from the G-League as a completely different player and was a front runner for the Most Improved Player but he was somehow not on the 3 finalists. Poole has had to step up twice this season because of Klay’s injury but then he had to take on an even bigger load when Curry fell into a slump in the middle of the season.
12-Andrew Wiggins
Junior Jordan finally lived up to his nickname, gaining his first All-Star appearance. However, this season ended up being one of his worst, statistically. Wiggins was averaging 17.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1 spg, and 0.7 bpg before the All-Star game which isn't exactly All-Star numbers but it is great to finally see him at the All-Star weekend and hopefully, this gives him the confidence boost he needs to improve his game.#
13-Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges has become one of the best 3 and D forwards in the league which earned him many DPOY shouts. He has also become one of the most consistent players in the league as he has played all 309 games that he could have played in his 4-year career. The Suns were smart to sign him to a long contract as he is a very rare type of player in today's game.
14-Draymond Green
The Basketball Mitochondria, Draymond Green is the powerhouse of the Warriors and has played the same role consistently for almost a decade. Before he was out for 2 months, he was keeping the Warriors afloat alongside Curry in his ridiculous form.
